The role of podoplanin in the biology of differentiated thyroid cancers

PLoS One. 2014 May 5;9(5):e96541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096541. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Podoplanin (PDPN), a mucin-type transmembrane glycoprotein specific to the lymphatic system is expressed in a variety of human cancers, and is regarded as a factor promoting tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular role of PDPN in the biology of thyroid cancer cells. PDPN expression was evaluated in primary thyroid carcinomas and thyroid carcinoma cell lines by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, IF and IHC. To examine the role of podoplanin in determining a cell's malignant potential (cellular migration, invasion, proliferation, adhesion, motility, apoptosis), a thyroid cancer cell line with silenced PDPN expression was used. We observed that PDPN was solely expressed in the cancer cells of 40% of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues. Moreover, PDPN mRNA and protein were highly expressed in PTC-derived TPC1 and BcPAP cell lines but were not detected in follicular thyroid cancer derived cell lines. PDPN knock-down significantly decreased cellular invasion, and modestly reduced cell migration, while proliferation and adhesion were not affected. Our results demonstrate that PDPN mediates the invasive properties of cells derived from papillary thyroid carcinomas, suggesting that podoplanin might promote PTC progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • PDPN protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grant 2012/07/B/NZ5/02444 from The National Science Center, Poland. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.